Manuel Iris at Hindman Settlement School

 I just got back last night from my days at the Hindman Settlement School. I didn’t know, when going there, that I was going to find so much love, so much friendship, so many talented and kindhearted people among those beautiful Appalachian mountains.

The cohort of creative writing students blew me away. They were intelligent, mature, and had a thirst for learning I have not seen in years. Truly outstanding young writers, proud of their heritage and with the full knowledge that all literature, from anywhere and any time, belongs to them, and they belong to it, too.

We talked much about poetry and life. About how one is the other. They gave me the opportunity pf learning from them.

Melissa Helton, your work goes beyond teaching creative writing and coordinating literary events. You are a community leader, a force of nature. I admire so much of what you, and all people around you, do for Hindman and its people. Thank you so much for thinking of me for this summer course. It was my honor. I’ll keep these days in my heart.

Wislawa Szymborska´s poetry on The Poetry Space Podcast

I really enjoyed being a guest on " The Poetry Space" podcast, organized by Rattle poetry magazine, to discuss the work of the Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska. As I said there, I am not a Szymborska scholar but a very enthusiastic reader of her work. Please, take a moment to listen to Katie Dozier, Timothy Green, Dick Westheimer, #Joe Barca, and myself talking about one of the most luminous poets of the 20th century. 

You can find the link below.

Cheers!